Increased demand for clean fuel, instability in Europe and the Middle East, territorial disputes in the South China Sea, and America’s Asia pivot
are just some of the many factors in Asia’s evolving energy scenario.

The shale gas revolution bodes well for the US and other countries determined to exploit their resources. But in Europe the situation is not as conducive, and the Old Continent’s industries are already scrambling to adapt.

The future looks bright for Kazakhstan. With its abundance of natural resources, all this vast, sparsely populated Central Asian nation needs to do is continue as stably as it has since it gained its independence.

There’s a growing transatlantic energy gap. The abundance of shale gas and oil in the US will soon make it not only energy self-sufficient, but also the world’s biggest petro-power. Can the same occur in Europe and elsewhere?

It will be hard for sub-Saharan Africa to dispel the clichés that depict it as a dysfunctional continent. But recent developments offer hope – especially if good governance can reach a critical mass as it spreads oil wealth more equitably.